View Full Version : Height Of Metal Halides Above Tank
Compguy
02/25/2008, 09:58 PM
Hello All,
Well I just purchased a new lighting system for my newly 55g reef tank and I think I may have overdone it, so please let me know, I purchased the Aqualight Pro Series Retrofit Kit that has 2-150 watt 10K
Metal Halides and 96-watt Actinic Power Compacts, as well as the LED's. Hopefully I didn't go overboard, I just saw it was the 48" version and that is what I had before for the Aqualight was the 48" 4-Power Compacts.
I am also wondering what the height should be above the water for the light, right now mounted to my canopy its about 5" above the water, but I am not sure if thats to close, it was just where it was right now and is getting a little to late to modify the height of the canopy.
Thanks for your help in advance, I appreciate it as I am a bit of a newbie and need all the help/advice I can get.
Thanks
As for being close, 5" is no an issue. Thats probably pretty close to what the legs would get you if you were using them. Depending on the light spread from those DE reflectors I might enen go closer.
Compguy
02/26/2008, 06:03 AM
You don't think that it is to much light for that tank do you, its a 55g, I just want to make sure that its not going to hurt the corals I will be putting in there in the long run, also, I think I am going to put like 20K lights in there, I really don't like the straight white color that is coming off, its almost to bright to look at, I think it would look better with a little more blue in it. Any suggestions on good MH bulbs
Paul_PSU
02/26/2008, 06:11 AM
Compguy,
I have 2 X 250w 14k MH's that I put in my canopy and I have a 75 gal. I raised my lid on my canopy up about 3 inches so my bulbs are about 9 inches from the water. I am in the process of converting from a FOWLR to reef. I had a coralife 4 X 65w fixture (piece of crap) on it before.
Paul
Compguy
02/26/2008, 06:27 AM
I think i had the same fixture you had, ok, so I don't have to worry about there being to much lighting, if that is even possible, you think the 150watt bulbs will be enough, I mean they look plenty bright.
Compguy
02/26/2008, 06:33 AM
Also,
If I go to 20K bulbs to replace the 10K that are in there right now, does that affect what can be kept in the tank, because I want to get more of a smoother blue look in their, so I would like to purchase some
quality 20K bulbs for my MH's but I don't want any limitations on what can be kept in the tank.
Paul_PSU
02/26/2008, 06:44 AM
The MH with the PC will be fine. Depending on what kind of coral you want to keep, you may have to place the ones that need more light higher up in the tank. As far as the blue look and since your fixture has MH and pc, you can just have the actinic bulbs for the pc and keep the 10k or move up to a 14k also, that have a slight blue look to it.
Paul
Squidhead
02/26/2008, 06:51 AM
Sorry to barge in on this but I have a similar question. Is it OK to use a glass canopy over the tank when using MH? Is there a danger of it breaking?
Compguy
02/26/2008, 06:55 AM
I could not tell you for sure, but I know that my MH's that are on my kit are covered with glass to protect them, and the glass is only like and inch away from the bulb, so I would say no, but maybe someone else can help.
Squidhead
02/26/2008, 06:59 AM
That's true. I probably have the same fixture as yours. I don't know if it is the same type of glass. I have used high power fluorescents over glass canopies before without a problem and they got pretty hot but never a problem.
lovethereefer25
02/26/2008, 08:25 AM
it is possible for the glass to break with the mh's. The run so hot that if water gets splashed onto the hot glass say bye bye glass. I learned that lesson the hard way, And believe me it isn't fun picking pieces of glass out of you anemone and corals. If you want to change out your 10k's I STRONGLY recommend the phoenix 14k's. I have had mine for a few months now and they are amazing. They will give you plenty of blue color. I don't believe I will ever use any different bulbs again.
lovethereefer25
02/26/2008, 08:28 AM
I would leave the glass on that came as a part of the unit. It provides UV protection. I just wouldn't add any glass that didn't come with the unit
Squidhead
02/26/2008, 10:05 AM
So pretty much everyone just uses an open top. I don't know what type of glass the canopy is made of. I guess if it where pyrex it would be OK. I will just hook up a ATO, they are not that $
Squidhead
02/26/2008, 10:07 AM
the only reason I use glass canopies is for the crud that builds up on the light fixture from evaporation. It was just easier to remove the canopy then wipe the lighting itself.
snommisbor
02/26/2008, 01:48 PM
I pulled my glass off and replaced with egg crate. I have an eel. But it will get too hot if you leave the glass on.
Compguy
02/26/2008, 03:47 PM
What do you use to cover the tank with so the water doesn't splash onto the bulbs or anything like that, I am worried about using plexi-glass which is what I had on their before because it might get to hot and bend, glass might crack, I'm at a stand still, I wanted to use nothing but the manual for the Aqualight Pro says to make sure the tank is covered
Squidhead
02/26/2008, 04:28 PM
I wanted to use nothing but the manual for the Aqualight Pro says to make sure the tank is covered
I have the Aqualight Pro also. Now that you mentioned it, they do suggest to have the aquarium covered. That is another reason I bought it. I got mine about 2 years ago. I have to check what the glass canopy manual says about MH lighting. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to check with the manufacturer of what you are supposed to cover you tank with. The only drawback of using the canopy (besides it possibly breaking) is the water gets really warm in the summer unless you get a good blast of cool air across the surface between the canopy and fixture. Maybe a raised plexi-glass cover to allow air flow over the surface of the water. If the plexi-glass warps you could use either egg crate as support or ever PVC pipe for supports. Just firing from the hip on that, but those are my first thoughts. Either way if there is a chance of glass breaking and falling in, I would rather it be a cheap canopy then $500+ lighting fixture.
Squidhead
02/26/2008, 04:36 PM
Thinking it over, I used to have a double 55W 4-pin CP fixture siting right on the glass. It would get really hot between the bulbs and the ballast. Water used to splash up quite a bit, along with condensation. It never broke. I guess it's just one of those things. Some glass may have been stressed and have weak points, like when a winshield just pops and breaks out of the blue.
Compguy
02/26/2008, 06:17 PM
I'm sure if I look around there has to be some kind of tempered glass that can handle that sort of stuff, because those MH's get really hot, it just would be nice to place something over the aquarium to keep the salt creep on the lighting equipment to a minimum and to help keep from voiding any kind of warranties on the lights, or just a weekly cleaning would work I'm sure
Squidhead
02/26/2008, 07:28 PM
I went on the Coralife (oceanic sytems) website and contacted them about this. I just asked them what they would reccomend to use a cover for the aquarium. I have a feeling that before the glass would break enough condensation would have built to kind of cool the glass. I had a double 55W CF fixture that sat directly on the glass canopy of a 29G. The balast sat inside the fixture which was very sleek. It took up about a 4"X23" section and believe me it got real hot. In the summer I would put a 1 1/2" spacer between the glass and fixture just so the water would stay a little cooler, no fans except an occasional overhead cieling fan. It would get hot but never a problem for about 8 years. I will check with the manufacturer of the canopy I have to see what it can take. If need be I'm sure some pyrex glass would do it. My stove top is pyrex and water will boil over onto it at full blast. I have also splashed cold water on it by accident when it was at full temp. and no problem. Somehow there should be an answer.
Compguy
02/27/2008, 02:05 AM
Ya, there has to be some kind of answer, keep me updated on what they say, thanks
Squidhead
02/27/2008, 04:29 PM
I havent heard from Coralife yet, but Marineland got back to me. that is the glass canopy I had got for this set-up. I e-mailed them and asked if their glass canopies could handle my/our Coralife Aqualight Pro 2 X 150W MH HQI and 2 X 96W blue without shattering from splashed water and intense heat. This was his reply:
Hello,
It is tempered glass and will withstand heat from
a halide lamp. Make
sure you wait for the glass to cool down before
cleaning or there is a
chance it will shatter.
Regards,
Robert Huber
United Pet Group, Aquatics Div.
Senior Consumer Relations Specialist
Robert.Huber@Tetra.net
1-800-526-0650 ext. 6126
This canopy was not very expensive at Drs FS. I'll let you know when I hear from Coralife.
Compguy
02/27/2008, 05:42 PM
Excellent, thanks for the update, I will still be interested to hear what Coralife has to say, once I hear from them I will probably go ahead and purchase the Marineland Covers, I just placed and order with Drs. FS today, or shall I say I have probably ordered from them practically everyday this week and last. Anyway, thanks for the update and will be keeping and eye out to see what Coralife says
Squidhead
02/27/2008, 06:22 PM
Unfortunately Coralife (merged with Oceanic) didn't have a telephone number to contact them. Maybe it's in the directions. They have'nt got back to me yet. I think they are in Calif. so maybe there is a chance before 8PM EST. In case you didn't know Marineland is the Perfecto Brand also. I would assume that both canopies are tempered glass though. I just got Perfecto/Marineland because that's the brand tank I have. I know what you mean by Drs.FS. I haven't placed my order until I am sure I won't need anything else or change my mind on some things as I already have.
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